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Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation lyrics



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01. Soldiers Of Fortune

Lyrics by Phil Lynott
A soldier of fortune came home from war
And wondered what he was fighting for
This sad-eyed soldier, he broke down and cried
Oh he was so broke up inside

When will it end
When will it end
The bells toll
For those about to die

The battle's over the war is won
But this soldier of fortune he will carry on
He will carry on when all hope is gone
He will carry on

He's trained to kill and kill he will
As we march along
Singing just another soldier song
Just another soldier song

I am a soldier of fortune
Destined to keep on marching
I can hear the pipers calling

I am a soldier of fortune
Destined to keep on marching
I can hear the pipers calling

02. Bad Reputation

Lyrics by Brian Downey, Scott Gorham, Lynott
You got a bad reputation
That's the word out on the town
It gives a certain fascination
But it can only bring you down

You better turn yourself around
Turn yourself around
Turn it upside down
Turn yourself around

You had bad breaks well that's tough luck
You play too hard too much rough stuff
You're too sly so cold
That bad reputation has made you old

Turn yourself around
Turn yourself around
Turn it upside down
Turn yourself around

03. Opium Trail

Lyrics by Downey, Gorham, Lynott
I took a line that leads you to the opium trail
Oriental eyes reveal the lies, deceit, betrayal
On this journey behold one who travels far
You called him fool but now you are

The wizard wanders through the world made from dreams
The splashing whirlpool drowns the frightened streams
Exotic dancers, flashing lancers, this mysterious space
The fanfare advances, the warlord falls from grace

It clears your pain
But it's got you claimed again, my love
You feel the need but it lets you bleed
You must concede, my love

No one to blame, no shame
You crave again and again, my love
No used to plead from you
It feeds on your greed, my love

I took a line that comes from the golden states of shan
The smugglers trail that leads to the opium den
The chinese connection refines to heroin
Depart the heart you crave again

It clears your pain
You soul is claimed again, my love
You feel the need, it lets you bleed
You must concede, my love

No one to blame, no shame
You crave again and again, my love
No use to plead
From you it feeds, my love

04. Southbound

Lyrics by Phil Lynott
The boom time it is over
A ghost town is all that's left here
The gold rush it is over
And depression days draw near

Tonight after sundown
I'm going to pack my case
I leave without a sound
Disappear without a trace

I'm going southbound

Drifting like a drover
Chasing my career
From the ships docked in the harbour
New horizons will appear

Tumbling with the tumbleweed
Down the open road
Taking only what I need
Before my head explodes

I'm going southbound

Hey, you're not getting any younger
The wild west has already been won
Northern lights are growing colder
And the old eastern ways are gone

So tonight after sundown
You must go from this place
Without a tear, without a frown
Disappear without a trace

05. Dancing In The Moonlight

Lyrics by Phil Lynott
When I passed you in the doorway
You took me with a glance
I should have took that last bus home
But I asked you for a dance

Now we go steady to the pictures
I always get chocolate stains on my pants
My father he's going crazy
Say's I'm living in a trance

But I'm dancing in the moonlight
It's caught me in it's spotlight
It's alright, alright
Dancing in the moonlight
On the long hot summer night

It's three o'clock in the morning
And I'm on the streets again
I disobeyed another warning
I should have been in by ten

Now I won't get out until sunday
I'll have to say I stayed with friends
But it's a habit worth forming
If it means to justify the end

06. Killer Without A Cause

Lyrics by Gorham, Lynott
He made a big impression
When he walked across the room
And I must make my confession
I might have spoked too soon

He's a killer
Without a cause
The time is right
To settle scores

On the streets he lives again
Down the alley and round the bend
On the beat beneath the light
An angel comes to claim the light

From the streets
This rebel shall rise
His soul shall soar
Through the skies

The same old confrontation
At the bar in the saloon
But it's just another tricky situation
The underworld operation lies in ruins

He's a killer
Without a cause
The time is right
To settle scores

07. Downtown Sundown

Lyrics by Phil Lynott
If you want your freedom
There is nothing planned
If you really need him
I will understand

Please believe in love
I believe there is a God above
For love
And he's coming, yes he's coming

If you want to fly
Then fly away
All the cloudy skies
Belong to yesterday

Please believe in love
I believe there is a God above
For love
And he's coming, yes he's coming

In the shadows the swallow dies
No one knows the hobo hides
There is no need to apologize
This is the story of a downtown sundown

If you climb the mountain
You will see
There is no great distance
Between the lord and me

Please believe in love
I believe there is a God above
For love
And he's coming, yes he's coming

In the shadows a swallow dies
No one knows the hobo hides
There is no need to apologize
This is the story of a downtown sundown

08. The Woman's Gonna Break Your Heart

Lyrics by Phil Lynott
Lonesome gambler
That woman will lead to heartbreaks
Take the word of one
Who played and lost in love

I played it cool
I dealt the heartaches
I broke rules
But that woman she cut me up

That woman's gonna break your heart
That woman's gonna tear your soul apart
That woman's gonna wreck your head
That woman's gonna leave you sad, so sad

If your life depends
On what you are losing
You're still refusing
To believe in fate or chance

You don't know now
But it's the wrong card you're using
That deck you're using
Is stacked against romance

That woman's gonna break your heart
That woman's gonna tear your soul apart
That woman's gonna wreck your head
That woman's gonna leave you sad, so sad

09. Dear Lord

Lyrics by Gorham, Lynott
Dear lord this is a prayer
Just let me know if you're really there
Dear lord come gain control
Oh lord come save my soul

Give me dignity restore my sanity
Oh lord come rescue me
Dear lord my vanity is killing me
Oh lord it's killing me, it's killing me

If you give your soul to heaven
And your soul begins to bleed
Remember all the sevens
Don't turn up when you need

If you do believe in glory
Then please believe a fact
Give your soul to heaven
You won't get it back

I'm down deep and I need your help
There's no one to turn to and I can't help myself
Dear lord hear this call
Oh lord save my fall

I'm scared I doubt
Dear lord help me out
I despair my lord my prayer my lord
Care my lord

Dear lord take the time
I believe your story now you believe mine
Oh lord I'm on my knees
Oh lord please please beware

My lord oh care my lord
Give me dignity
Restore my sanity
My vanity is killing me

If you give your soul to heaven
And your soul begins to bleed
Remember all the sevens
Don't turn up when you need

If you do believe in glory
Then please believe a fact
Give your soul to heaven
You won't get it back